Is acupuncture safe?

Yes, but there can be complications, ranging from the cosmetic (minor bruising) to the very rare but serious (puncture of a vital organ or structure). This topic has been extensively reviewed and published. As a global statement, yes, acupuncture treatment by a properly trained, competent and careful practitioner is safe, but not without risk of somewhat more common transient and minor complications such as: bruising, local pain, a flare in the presenting symptom, faintness, anxiety or an unexpected emotional reaction, nausea or excessive fatigue. Very rarely, a serious complication such as puncture of the lung or a nerve is reported. Skin infection is rare. Single use sterile needles are the standard of care for placement though the skin. Therefore, the risk of acquiring a blood-borne infection such as hepatitis is effectively nil. The Consent for Acupuncture Treatment that you sign prior to treatment should list possible complications (as does the Consent document I use). It is important that all your questions concerning safety are clearly and satisfactorily answered before treatment starts.